Place Names of Ireland in Irish

Last updated July 15, 2026
Rosmerta basking with a book from her library.

53 entries in this theme. Use the search box below to find a specific word, or scroll the table.

IrishOghamHow to say itEnglishSourceNote
an Bhreatain Bheagαš›αšαš… αšαš†αšαš“αšαšˆαšαš”αš… αšαš†αš“αšαšŒαšœun VRA-tin VYUGwalesLogainmWales β€” literally ‘the little Britain’, distinguishing it from An Bhreatain MhΓ³r (Britain).
An CabhΓ‘nαš›αšαš… αš‰αšαšαš†αšαš…αšœun KOW-awncavanLogainmCavan. The hollow.
An ClΓ‘rαš›αšαš… αš‰αš‚αšαšαšœun KLAWRclareLogainmCounty Clare β€” ‘the plain’ or ‘the level place.’
An Daingeanαš›αšαš… αš‡αšαš”αš…αšŒαš“αšαš…αšœun DANG-undingleLogainmDingle. An Daingean means ‘the fortress.’ One of the strongest Munster Gaeltacht areas.
An DΓΊnαš›αšαš… αš‡αš’αš…αšœun DOONdownLogainmCounty Down β€” ‘the fort.’
An IarmhΓ­αš›αšαš… αš”αšαšαš‹αš†αš”αšœun EER-veewestmeathLogainmCounty Westmeath β€” ‘the western middle.’ Carved out of the older province of Meath.
An IΓΊrαš›αšαš… αš”αš’αšαšœun YOORnewryLogainmNewry β€” ‘the yew tree.’ Saint Patrick is said to have planted a yew here.
An Longfortαš›αšαš… αš‚αš‘αš…αšŒαšƒαš‘αšαšˆαšœun LONG-furtlongfordLogainmCounty Longford β€” ‘the fortress.’
An MhΓ­αš›αšαš… αš‹αš†αš”αšœun VEEmeathsacred placeOld IrishLogainmMeath β€” ‘the middle.’ Was once the fifth province (along with Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht); the seat of the High Kings of Ireland at Tara.
An Rinnαš›αšαš… αšαš”αš…αš…αšœun rinringLogainmAn Rinn β€” Ring, Co. Waterford. The only Munster Gaeltacht outside Kerry/West Cork.
an tSionainnαš›αšαš… αšˆαš„αš”αš‘αš…αšαš”αš…αš…αšœun TYIN-unshannonLogainmThe River Shannon β€” Ireland’s longest river, from Co. Cavan to the Atlantic at Limerick. Named for the goddess Sionann.
Aontroimαš›αšαš‘αš…αšˆαšαš‘αš”αš‹αšœAYN-trumantrimgaelspellLogainmCounty Antrim. From aon (one) + droim (ridge).
Ard Mhachaαš›αšαšαš‡ αš‹αš†αšαš‰αš†αšαšœord WAH-khuharmaghsacred placeOld IrishLogainmArmagh β€” ‘height of Macha.’ The goddess Macha gave her name to the seat of Saint Patrick’s church and the historical primacy of Ireland.
Baile Átha Cliathαš›αšαšαš”αš‚αš“ αšαšˆαš†αš αš‰αš‚αš”αšαšˆαš†αšœBAL-uh AW KLEE-uhdublinLogainmDublin β€” literally ‘town of the hurdle ford.’ The crossing point of the Liffey where wattle hurdles were laid for fording. The Norse called the same site Dyflinn β€” ‘black pool’ β€” which gives English ‘Dublin.’
BeanntraΓ­αš›αšαš“αšαš…αš…αšˆαšαšαš”αšœBAN-treebantrygaelspellLogainmBantry, Cork. From the Beanntraighe (Beann’s people).
BΓ©al Feirsteαš›αšαš“αšαš‚ αšƒαš“αš”αšαš„αšˆαš“αšœbayl FERSH-chehbelfastLogainmBelfast β€” literally ‘mouth of the Farset’ (the river Farset, now culverted).
Caisealαš›αš‰αšαš”αš„αš“αšαš‚αšœKASH-ulcashelWiktionarygaelspellLogainmCashel, Co. Tipperary β€” site of the Rock of Cashel (Carraig PhΓ‘draig), seat of the Kings of Munster.
CiarraΓ­αš›αš‰αš”αšαšαšαšαš”αšœKEER-eekerrygaelspellLogainmCounty Kerry β€” ‘descendants of Ciar.’ Strongest Munster Gaeltacht; West Kerry preserves ancient pronunciation.
Cill Airneαš›αš‰αš”αš‚αš‚ αšαš”αšαš…αš“αšœkil AHR-nuhkillarneyWiktionaryLogainmKillarney β€” ‘church of the sloes.’ Cill (church) is the most common Irish prefix in place names, marking sites of early Christian foundations.
Cill Chainnighαš›αš‰αš”αš‚αš‚ αš‰αš†αšαš”αš…αš…αš”αšŒαš†αšœkil KHAN-eekilkennyLogainmKilkenny β€” Church of Cainnech. Saint Cainnech (Kenneth) founded a monastery here.
Cill Daraαš›αš‰αš”αš‚αš‚ αš‡αšαšαšαšœkil DAR-uhkildaresacred placeOld IrishWiktionaryLogainmKildare β€” ‘church of the oak.’ Saint Brigid’s monastery, by the sacred oak.
Cill MhantΓ‘inαš›αš‰αš”αš‚αš‚ αš‹αš†αšαš…αšˆαšαš”αš…αšœkil VON-tawnwicklowLogainmWicklow in Irish β€” ‘church of MantΓ‘n’ (Saint MantΓ‘n, missionary).
Cill MocheallΓ³gαš›αš‰αš”αš‚αš‚ αš‹αš‘αš‰αš†αš“αšαš‚αš‚αš‘αšŒαšœkil MUH-khul-ohgkilmallockLogainmKilmallock β€” church of MocheallΓ³g, an early saint.
Conamaraαš›αš‰αš‘αš…αšαš‹αšαšαšαšœKUN-uh-mar-uhconnemaragaelspellLogainmConnemara. Likely ‘Conmaicne by the sea’ β€” territory of the Conmaicne tribe. The largest Connacht Gaeltacht.
Corcaighαš›αš‰αš‘αšαš‰αšαš”αšŒαš†αšœKUR-keecorkgaelspellLogainmCork. Corcaigh means ‘marsh’ β€” the city was built on the marshes of the Lee.
Doireαš›αš‡αš‘αš”αšαš“αšœDUR-uhderrysacred placeOld IrishWiktionarygaelspellLogainmDerry. Doire means ‘oak grove’ β€” the original sacred grove where Colm Cille founded a monastery in 546.
Gaeltachtαš›αšŒαšαš“αš‚αšˆαšαš‰αš†αšˆαšœGAYL-tukhtirish-speaking regionWiktionarygaelspellLogainmGaeltacht β€” the regions where Irish is spoken as a community language. Strong GaeltachtaΓ­: West Kerry, Conamara, Donegal, Aran Islands, MΓΊscraΓ­.
Gaillimhαš›αšŒαšαš”αš‚αš‚αš”αš‹αš†αšœGAL-ivgalwaygaelspellLogainmGalway. Etymology contested; possibly from Gaillimh, a mythological woman drowned in the river.
Galltachtαš›αšŒαšαš‚αš‚αšˆαšαš‰αš†αšˆαšœGAUL-tukhtenglish-speaking regionWiktionarygaelspellLogainmGalltacht β€” the English-speaking regions of Ireland (everywhere outside the Gaeltacht).
Gaoth Dobhairαš›αšŒαšαš‘αšˆαš† αš‡αš‘αšαš†αšαš”αšαšœGEE DOH-ergweedoreLogainmGweedore β€” heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht.
Gleann DΓ‘ Lochαš›αšŒαš‚αš“αšαš…αš… αš‡αš αš‚αš‘αš‰αš†αšœglun daw LUKHglendaloughWiktionaryLogainmGlendalough β€” ‘glen of two lakes.’ Saint Kevin’s monastic city in Wicklow.
Inis MeΓ‘inαš›αš”αš…αš”αš„ αš‹αš“αšαš”αš…αšœin-ish MAY-ininishmaanLogainmInishmaan β€” ‘middle island.’ The most Irish-speaking of the Aran Islands.
Inis MΓ³rαš›αš”αš…αš”αš„ αš‹αš‘αšαšœin-ish MOHRinishmoreLogainmInishmore β€” ‘big island.’ Largest of the three Aran Islands.
Inis OΓ­rrαš›αš”αš…αš”αš„ αš‘αš”αšαšαšœin-ish EERinisheerLogainmInisheer β€” ‘east island.’ Smallest of the Aran Islands.
Laoisαš›αš‚αšαš‘αš”αš„αšœleeshlaoisgaelspellLogainmCounty Laois β€” named for LoΓ­gis, an early people of the area.
Learphollαš›αš‚αš“αšαšαššαš†αš‘αš‚αš‚αšœLAR-fuhlliverpoolgaelspellLogainmLiverpool β€” historically the principal port of Irish emigration to Britain.
Liatroimαš›αš‚αš”αšαšˆαšαš‘αš”αš‹αšœLEE-uh-trumleitrimWiktionarygaelspellLogainmCounty Leitrim β€” ‘grey ridge.’
Loch Garmanαš›αš‚αš‘αš‰αš† αšŒαšαšαš‹αšαš…αšœlukh GAR-munwexfordLogainmWexford in Irish. Loch Garman β€” Garman’s lake. Norse name VeisafjorΓ°r gives English ‘Wexford.’
Luimneachαš›αš‚αš’αš”αš‹αš…αš“αšαš‰αš†αšœLIM-nukhlimerickgaelspellLogainmLimerick. Luimneach means ‘bare ground’ β€” exposed riverside terrain.
LΓΊαš›αš‚αš’αšœloolouthgaelspellLogainmLouth. Smallest Irish county. Named for Lugh, where the god Lugh’s horse AonbhΓ‘rr was tethered.
Maigh Eoαš›αš‹αšαš”αšŒαš† αš“αš‘αšœmy OHmayoWiktionaryLogainmMayo β€” Plain of the Yew. Ancient yew tree gave the county its name.
MuineachΓ‘nαš›αš‹αš’αš”αš…αš“αšαš‰αš†αšαš…αšœMIN-ukh-awnmonaghangaelspellLogainmCounty Monaghan β€” ‘place of small thickets.’
Nua-Eabhracαš›αš…αš’αšαš“αšαšαš†αšαšαš‰αšœNOO-uh AY-vrukhnew yorkTatoebagaelspellLogainmNew York City. From nua (new) + Eabhrac (the Irish form of York, from Old Norse JΓ³rvΓ­k).
OileΓ‘in Árannαš›αš‘αš”αš‚αš“αšαš”αš… αšαšαšαš…αš…αšœil-AWN AW-runnaran islandsLogainmThe Aran Islands β€” three islands off the Galway coast (Inis MΓ³r, Inis MeΓ‘in, Inis OΓ­rr); a Gaeltacht stronghold.
Port LΓ‘irgeαš›αššαš‘αšαšˆ αš‚αšαš”αšαšŒαš“αšœpurt LAWR-guhwaterfordLogainmWaterford β€” literally ‘port of the haunch (or the man LΓ‘rag).’ The Norse name was VedrarfjorΓ°r, giving English ‘Waterford.’
Ros ComΓ‘inαš›αšαš‘αš„ αš‰αš‘αš‹αšαš”αš…αšœrus KUM-awnroscommonLogainmCounty Roscommon β€” ‘wood of Coman’ (Saint Coman, founder of an early monastery).
Sceilg MhichΓ­lαš›αš„αš‰αš“αš”αš‚αšŒ αš‹αš†αš”αš‰αš†αš”αš‚αšœSKEL-ig vih-HEELskellig michaelLogainmSkellig Michael β€” the larger of the two Skellig islands off Co. Kerry; site of an early-Christian monastic settlement, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sligeachαš›αš„αš‚αš”αšŒαš“αšαš‰αš†αšœSHLIG-ukhsligoWiktionarygaelspellLogainmSligo. Means ‘shelly place’ β€” the river Garavogue carries shells down to the bay.
Tiobraid Árannαš›αšˆαš”αš‘αšαšαšαš”αš‡ αšαšαšαš…αš…αšœCHIB-rud AW-runtipperaryLogainmCounty Tipperary β€” ‘well of Ára’ (a sacred spring).
TrΓ‘ LΓ­αš›αšˆαšαš αš‚αš”αšœtraw LEEtraleeLogainmTralee β€” strand of the river Lee.
TΓ­r Chonaillαš›αšˆαš”αš αš‰αš†αš‘αš…αšαš”αš‚αš‚αšœcheer KHUN-ildonegalWiktionaryLogainmDonegal in Irish β€” ‘land of Conall’ (Conall, brother of Eoghan). Modern Donegal Town is DΓΊn na nGall, fort of the foreigners.
TΓ­r Eoghainαš›αšˆαš”αš αš“αš‘αšŒαš†αšαš”αš…αšœcheer OH-intyroneLogainmTyrone β€” ‘land of Eoghan.’ Eoghan was son of Niall of the Nine Hostages; TΓ­r Eoghain was his territory.
UΓ­bh FhailΓ­αš›αš’αš”αšαš† αšƒαš†αšαš”αš‚αš”αšœEEV AL-eeoffalyLogainmCounty Offaly β€” ‘descendants of Failghe.’

Last updated July 15, 2026
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